Chelsea issue warning over threats to Champions League referee

• Police monitoring hate campaign against Tom Henning Ovrebo
• Club say they will take strong action against any guilty fan

Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo has been the subject of a hate campaign after rejecting four penalty appeals by Chelsea as they went out of the Champions League to Barcelona. Photograph: Heiko Junge/AFP/Getty Images

Chelsea have issued a statement warning that any season ticket holders or club members who issue threats against Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo will be dealt with severely. Ovrebo, who enraged Chelsea players, staff and supporters by failing to award any of the four penalty appeals during last night's Champions League defeat to Barcelona, was smuggled out of Britain earlier after concerns for his safety. The Oslo police are monitoring death threats and an internet hate campaign against the official.

The statement read: "Following media reports claiming threats have been made against the referee of last night's game, Chelsea Football Club would like to make clear that it condemns any form of threat against players, officials or supporters. If provided with proper evidence Chelsea will take the strongest action against any season ticket holders or members who have participated in this activity.

"Everybody connected with Chelsea is very disappointed with the events of last night. However, we would stress that we have received no evidence that Chelsea fans are involved in any of the alleged threats reported. As a result of these reports we have also been in contact with the police who likewise had not received any complaints."